A CASE STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TOWARDS FARMERS INCOME (THE MEMBERS OF THE JAPAN INTERNSHIP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF EAST JAVA) .

Abstract

One of the programs devoted to address the problem of low farmer regeneration rate was Japan internship program for young farmers. Although it had been launched since 1984, this program had not yet examined its impact on increasing income. Therefore, this study aimed to: 1) Identify the characteristics of program alumni; 2) Analyze the development of program implementation mechanisms; 3) Analyze the impact of the program; and 4) Analyze the policy implications for increasing income. This research was conducted in East Java Province, Indonesia from September to February 2021. In order to answer the research objectives, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used. The results showed that most of the alumni had relatively good characteristics in terms of age, education, training and experience. Based on the recruitment mechanism, the internship program had undergone a transformation from 1984 to 2021. Wilcoxon test results showed that this program had an impact on increasing alumni income after they returned to Indonesia. The role of the government in the sustainability of this internship program is a necessity because this program appears as a manifestation of the government's concern in developing the agricultural sector in Indonesia by increasing the experience and knowledge of farmers through soft skills and technical skills supporting the sustainability of their business. In addition, there is a need for an up-to-date information system related to Japan internship alumni, so that the sustainability of the results of the internship program can be continue.